Finishing and finishing

A couple of fast finishes to report.  You all have seen the cot quilts before, but I am pleased to report that they are finished.  Yes, quilted by me, bound by me and washed by me ready to gift.  I discovered a couple of things which you all probably knew.  How much better is it to sew on binding with a walking foot.  Doh!  I hear you say, but I've always been a slow learner .... The other thing was the machine attached binding.  Now I looked at the various tutorials online, and thought I would give it a whirl.  I was quite pleased with the results, but can see how to improve it next time.  And frankly, it does take the "OMG to I really have to sew all the way around this quilt" feeling out of the process.

I really like the Trefle fabric I found in the voluminous stash for the border.  Tiny green frogs and little capital letters which seem just right for a finding quilt.  I also used some organic cotton and the sides off my prickly pear quit for the backing.  Stash reduction girls, that is what it is all about.  I used a piece of the Tula Pink Arcadia range for the HST quilt, and a nice piece of Japanese floral which was just right too for backing.

 My other project has been this cute cushion cover which is the first in my series of using someone else's needlepoint efforts rather than doing it myself.  Now the background here is that it has taken me 12 years to nearly finish  a Bloomsbury cushion cover I bought in the UK when I was pregnant with number one son.  I like tapestry and needlepoint, but just can't keep at it.  Some lovely lady sewed this beautiful cross stitch town scene and I surrounded it with linen, a bit of quilting and some piping and I have a lovely cushion.  There are more to come.

My stripey quilt is progressing and I have rediscovered a quilt with Ohio stars I started from the MO II book.  I found to my delight, that I had already sewn up 11 blocks and cut out a further 11.  Its funny now I look at the fabric choices, but I have challenged myself to finish it before next class with the HLs.  There, I have thrown my own gauntlet down and you will see if I am up to it in a few weeks time.

M's machine like production of quilts has spurred me into action.  You see, I have no other outlet for my competitive drive when I am not working.